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Israel and Hamas at War
What is Hamas?
Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamist militant organization and political party based in the Gaza Strip. It has a social service wing, Dawah (Islamic الدعوة "Call"), and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
Hamas's Goals
Hamas's stated goals are to liberate Palestine from Israeli occupation and to establish an Islamic state in all of the territory of the former British Mandate of Palestine, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Israel.
Hamas's Military Activities
Hamas maintains a military force of over 25,000 fighters, equipped with a variety of weapons, including rockets, mortars, and anti-tank missiles. Hamas has fought several wars against Israel, most recently in May 2021.
The Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip is a narrow coastal strip of land located between Egypt and Israel. It is home to over 2 million people, living in a densely populated area. The economy is underdeveloped, and unemployment is high.
The Israel-Gaza Conflict
The Israel-Gaza conflict is a long-standing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The conflict has flared up into violence on numerous occasions, most recently in May 2021. The violence typically results in civilian casualties on both sides.
The May 2021 War
The May 2021 war was the most recent major conflict between Israel and Hamas. The war began on May 10, 2021, when Hamas fired rockets at Israel from Gaza. Israel responded with airstrikes on Gaza. The war lasted for 11 days and resulted in the deaths of over 250 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.
The Current Situation
The situation in Israel and Gaza remains tense. Hamas continues to fire rockets at Israel, and Israel continues to respond with airstrikes. The international community is working to broker a ceasefire, but so far, these efforts have been unsuccessful.
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The Future of the Israel-Gaza Conflict
The future of the Israel-Gaza conflict is uncertain. Hamas is unlikely to give up its goal of liberating Palestine from Israeli occupation, and Israel is unlikely to allow Hamas to establish an Islamic state in the Gaza Strip. This suggests that the conflict is likely to continue in the foreseeable future.
The international community has a role to play in resolving the Israel-Gaza conflict. The international community can provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza and pressure both Israel and Hamas to negotiate a ceasefire. The international community can also work to promote a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which would involve the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
